10 Worst WWE Royal Rumble Winners Ever

10. Sheamus (2012)

Jim Duggan and Big John Studd may seem like notable omissions, but the Rumble wasn’t really the Rumble in 1988 and 1989. It was an experimental attraction, a prize unto itself with no bearing on what wasn’t even called the road to WrestleMania yet. 

Sheamus, conversely, was a bad winner when the Rumble was meant to mean something.

In 2025, Sheamus is a profoundly respected upper midcard stalwart praised for his enduring reliability. He’s not exciting, and while you might not clamour to see what he gets up to next, what’s he doing now is always good, bruising fun. 

In 2012, Sheamus was the latest guy Vince McMahon wanted you to like in a scene that was hardly overflowing with options - one of several guys on the roster who could masquerade as a main eventer for a bit because an unchallenged WWE had the luxury of doing as they wished. 

He was a jovial unfunny guy who was also a bit of a nasty asshole - one of those heavily ironic Be A Star era babyfaces - who after smashing Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXVIII probably feuded with Alberto Del Rio or something, who cares.